Circuit controlling device



Jan. 29, 1946. M. A. LEAVITT 2,393,784

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 3, 1942 Inventor: Minard- A. Leavitc b )Vwyfi His Attorn ey.

Patented Jan. 29, 1946' cmcUrr CONTROLLING nnvrcr:

Minard A. Leavltt, Avon by the Sea, N. J., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York I Application December 3, 1942, Serial No. 467,748

4 Claims.

My invention relates. to improvements in circuit controlling devices and more particularly to electromagnetically actuated circuit controllin devices and especially electroresponsive devices such as relays.

In some applications of circuit controlling devices, the relative severity of the duty demands ruggedness and simplicity of structure. Thus,

'. for example, battery cutout relays used in connection with charging equipment must operate frequently. Moreover, their contact structure must not only be. able to conduct relatively large currents but also to interrupt them, This frequency of operation and severe current duty aifects most the contact structure, which is only too often the weakest point in the whole relay structure. Of course, the severit of the interrupting duty can be relieved by the addition of However, this adds- .in direct current circuits.

easy to maintain and repair. A further object of an electric current conducting terminal-contact and bearing element in such a manner as to provide highly emcient current conduction, Also in accordance with my invention, I provide for magnetically actuated circuit controlling devices a simplified armature mounting which includes the above-mentioned contact structure to the movable circuit controlling member of which the armature.is attached. Further in accordance with my invention, I provide for circuit controlling devices an improved armature and circuit controlling member mounting which is si ple in construction and easy to assemble and yet prohibits any false movements of the circuit controlling member and the armature attached thereto. These and other objects of my invention will appear in more detail hereinafter.

My invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an electromagnetic circuit controlling device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an elevation in perspective of the embodiment of my invention shown'in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of illustrating m invention, I have shown a circuit controlling device of the electroresponsive type and more specifically a reverse current relay which is intended for use As shown, this relay comprises a magnetic structure in the form of a U-shaped magnet 5 having two pole faces 8 and l and a cooperating armature 8. The ma net 6 is suitably secured to a base 9, preferably of insulating material for reasons hereinafter to appear.

In accordance witn my invention, I provide means for mounting the armature 8 adjacent the pole faces 6 and l for movement relatively thereto in response to predetermined changes in the energization of the magnet 5 by energizing windings l0 and H. As shown, this armature mounting means comprises a movable circuit controlling member I! which, in the illustrated embodiment of my invention, is so superposed on the armature 8 that the longitudinal axes of the member and the armature are substantially parallel with the'member suitably attached to the armature on the side thereof opposite the poles 6 and i. In other words, the member I! is so superposed on the armature 8 that the current conducting path of the member is substantially parallel to the flux path of the armature. As illustrated, the attaching means comprises screws i3 and lock washers H which serve rigidly to secure the member II to the armature 8. i

For movably supporting the circuit controlling member I! and the armature 8 attached thereto,

I provide, in accordance with my invention, an

electric current conducting terminal-contact and suitably secured to the insulating base 8 through a conductively connected terminal post ll provided with an insulating bushing l1. As illustrated, the terminal-contact and bearing element I is in the form of a bracket having a shelf portion or arm l8 on which one end of the circuit controlling member i 2 rests. In order to prevent lateral movement of the armature 8, that is, transverse movement relatively to the poles of the magnet, the contact and bearing element i5 is provided with motion-limiting means such as an opening or through slot I8 into which the end of the armature adjacent the pole face 1 extends, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. It will be observed that this slot I8 which extends clear through the vertical arm 01' the bearing element i5 also limits movement of the end of the armature 8 adjacent the pole face I away from this pole face. Also, the end of the electric, current conducting member l2 which rests on the arm I8 is wide enough to bridge the slot l9.

-In order to insure good conduction between the stationary contact element l5 and the movable circuit controlling member i2, the latter may be constructed with a beveled edge 20 so as to be ably connected to the positive side of the battery, the terminal post 29 to the positive side of the generator, and the terminal post 3| to the negative side of both the battery and the generator, as indicated in Fig. 1. If the generator voltage is suflicient, the magnet 5 will be enerin line contact with the contact element I5. For

maintaining the knife edge contact between the circuit controlling member l2 and the element 15 at suitable pressure for the currents to be conducted, I provide means which is arranged to exert forces on the circuit controlling member tending to maintain one end thereof against the contact element i5 and to turn the circuit controlling member in one direction, clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. As shown, this means is a biasing means in the form of a tension spring 2i connected between a post 22 on the base 9 and a post 28 rigidly positioned on the circuit controlling member i2. The angular position of the force exerted by the spring 2| is such that one component of the axial force of this spring tends to move the circuit controlling member l2 toward the base into high pressure contact with the contact element l5 and the other component of the axial force tends to turn the armature clockwise against a motion-limiting means, such as an adjustably positioned insulating back-stop 24. When the armature 8 ismoved to the attracted position against the bias of spring 2i, a contact 25 on the circuit controlling member i2 engages a stationary contact 28. It will be observed that in the attracted position the magnetic attraction between the armature and the pole faces 6 and 1 increases the contact pressure between the circuit controlling member I! and its supporting contact element l5 and insures the necessary pressure between the contact elements 25 and 26.

For reverse current protection, the winding it may be assumed to be a current winding which has one terminal connected to a current conducting strap 21, which provides the mounting for the stationary contact 28 and the backstop 24. The other terminal 28 of the current winding it connects to a terminal post 29 mounted on the base 8. As shown, this post is also provided with an insulating bushing 88. The other energizing winding II is a potential energized winding, one terminal or which is connected to the conducting strap 21 and the other terminal to a terminal post 35 also mounted on the base 8.

Assuming now that the reverse current relay shown in the drawing is to be used in batte y chargi g, then the terminal post it will be suitgized enough to attract the armature 8 and thereby close the contacts 25 and 28. This completes the circuit of the current coil II) from the plus side of the battery as follows: the terminal post IS, the contact-terminal and bearing element IS, the circuit controlling member 12, the contacts 25 and 26, the conducting strap 21, the current winding ill, the lead 28, and the terminal post 28 to the positive side of the generator. If the generator voltage exceeds the battery voltage, the direction of the flow of current in the current winding HI will be such that the magnetic effect of this winding will add to the magnetic effect of the potential winding II to maintain the armature 8 in the attracted position so that the generator can charge the battery. On the other hand, when the generator voltage is less than the battery voltage, the direction of the flow of current in the winding It will be such that the magnetic action of this winding is opposed to the magnetic action of the potential winding ll thereby decreasing the holding effect of the magnet 5 on the armature I, which will be actuated by the spring 2| to the position shown in the drawing to interrupt the battery charging circuit.

While I have shown and described my invention'in considerable detail, I do not desire to be limited to the exact arrangements shown, but seek to cover in the appended claims all those modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A circuit controlling device comprising a magnet having two pole faces, winding means for energizing said magnet, an armature, means maintaining said armature with its ends over said pole faces for angular movement relatively thereto comprising an electric current conducting member, said member and said armature being rigidly secured to each other with the conducting path of the member substantially parallel to the flux path of the armature and with the member on the sideof the armature away from the pole faces, an electric current conducting terminal and bearing bracket positioned with one arm adjacent and substantially parallel to one of said pole faces, said arm being provided with a through slot for reception of one end of the armature to prevent lateral movement of said end and to limit movement of said end away from said one pole piece, and the end of said current conducting member adjacent said one pole piece being wider than said slot and positioned to bear on the side of said arm away from said one pole piece, a stationary contact positioned adjacent the other of said pole faces and on the armature side of said current conducting member, and resilient means exerting a force on said current conducting member tending to maintain one end thereof on said bracket and the other end away from said stationary contact, and means for limiting the movement of said other end of the current conducting member away from said stationary contact. 7

2. A circuit controlling device comprising a magnet having two pole faces, winding means for ,member, said member and said armature being rigidly secured to each other with the conducting path of the member substantially parallel to the flux path of the armature and with the member on the side of the armature away from the pole faces, an electric current conducting terminal and bearing bracket positioned with one arm .adjacent and substantially parallel to one of said pole faces, said arm being provided with a through slot for reception of one end of the armature to prevent lateral movement of said end and to limit movement of said end away from said one pole piece, and the end of said current conducting member adjacent said one pole piece being wider .than said slot and positioned to bear on said arm and also having a beveled edge to engage said bracket in line contact, a stationary contact positioned adjacent the other of said pole faces and on the armature side of said current conducting member, resilient means exerting a force on said current conducting member tending to maintain said line contact and a force tending to move the current conducting member out of engagement with said stationary contact, and means for limiting the movement of said other end of the current conducting member away from said stationary contacts.

3. An electromagnet having an armature and an electriccurrent conducting pivotal mounting for said armature comprising a conducting terminal and bearing element provided with an opening for reception of one end of the armature to prevent lateral movement thereof, a conducting member rigidly secured to said armature lengthwise thereof and having one end positioned to bear on said element and also having a beveled edge to engage said element in line contact, a stationary contactpositioned adjacent the other end of said conducting member for engagement thereby, and resilient means exerting a force on said current conducting member tending to maintain said line contact and a force tending to move the current conducting member out of engagement with said stationary contact.

54-; An electromagnet having two spaced pole faces, an armature, and an electric current conducting pivotal mounting for said armature comprising a conducting terminal and bearing element mounted adjacent one of said pole faces and provided with an opening for reception of one end of the armature to prevent lateral movement thereof and also to limit movement of the end of the armature away from said one pole BHNARD A. IEAVI'IT. 

